Mail-bag fastener.



J. A. SCOTT.

, 9. 1,001 ,996, Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

2 SKEETBBHEET 1.

J. A. SCOTT.

MAIL BAG FASTENER- APPLIOATION IILBD JUNE 8, 1909.

1,001,996, Patented Aug. 29,1911. I

2 SHEETS-BHEET 2.

JOSEPH A. SCOTT, 0F ATLANTA, INDIANA.

MAIL-BAG FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application fi1ed June 8, 1909.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911. Serial No. 500,963.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPH A. Soorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Hamilton and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag F asteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail bag fasteners.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and reliable means whereby a mail bag may be quickly secured in a closed position and whereby the same may be readily 1gpened to give access to the interior of the Further, the object of the invention is to provide a mail bag fastener of a form which allows a part thereof to be permanently secured to a bag and which shall be of a form to permit of the secure fastening and looking of the bag when in a closed position by a single movement of one of the parts requiring little time and no nicety of adjustment of the parts in order to effect the locking.

With this object in view the invent-ion consists of the fastener having the generic and specific features of construction and arrangement of the parts substantially as here inafter described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which;

Figure 1 is a View showing the mouth of a mail bag in a closed position, and showing my improved fastener in position to have its parts secured to lock the mouth of the bag in a closed position. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the parts of the locking means being connected to secure the mouth of the bag in a closed position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fastener device detached from a mail bag. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the locking dog and its casing, the dog being shown inthe position assumed when the parts of the fastener are secured together; and, Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 the locking dog being shown as raised to allow separation of the parts and showing a key in position to move the dog from a locked position.

In this drawing 1 represents a casing which is preferably of metal and has formed with or attached to it a plate 2 having around the edges thereof the openings 3 for the reception of rivets or other attaching means whereby the plate is adapted to be permanently attached to a mail bag adjacent to the opening therein.

The casing 1 has in it adjacent to the plate 2 a recess 4 forming an opening for anddesigned to closely inclose one end of a strap or band by which the mouth of the bag when folded into compact form is confined and secured. The edges of the inner face of the recess 4 are formed by flanges 5 preferably formed with the sides of the casing and having their outer ends beveled in order to offer no obstruction to the introduction of the end of a band into the recess 4.

One side of the flange 2 has in it an opening 6 in line with the recess 4, and through this opening one end of a strap or band 7 of leather or metal is introduced and secured permanently in place in any suitable way. The other end of the strap or band has fastened to it a plate 8 having an opening 9 therein, and which is provided on the edge thereof toward the end of the strap with a flange 10. The extreme end 11 of the strap or band is so formed as to adapt it to be readily grasped in connecting or disconnecting the end of the strap or band bearing the plate, to the end attached to the casing.

Located within the casing is a locking dog 12 which is pivoted at a point 13 and which is capable of a slight vibratory movement in the casing. The dog has a beveled projection 14 which normally projects into the recess 4 and which has a locking shoulder 15 on its inner face which is designed to abut against one side of the opening 9 in the plate when the ends of the strap or band are secured together.

The dog 12 is normally held with its pro jection 14 bearing on the plate 2 by a coil spring 16. This spring is seated in an opening in the inner face of the shell 1 and it bears at one end on an arm 17 formed with the dog 12.

The casing is provided with an opening 18 which is adjacent to the arm 17 of the dog for the admission of a key 19 by means of which the dog may be raised imposing pressure on the arm 17. When the dog is raised it assumes the position, shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, removed from the recess 4. When relieved from the pressure of the key, the dog will be returned to and held in the position shown in Fig. 4.

In the use of the device the casing is secured in place near the mouth of a mail bag by means of rivets or the like passing through the openings in the plate 2, the casing being located with the open end of the recess toward the mouth of the bag. The material of the bag is brought closely to gether and the end 11 of the strap or band is grasped and drawn around the gathered part of the band. The length of the band is such that when thus drawn taut around the bag the flange 10 of the plate will be in line with one face of the casing. To fasten the strap or band, the plate is forced sidewise into the recess 4 of the casing. This introduction is facilitated and the proper positioning of the plate is insured by the plate sliding over the beveled flanges 5 and by the contact of the flange 10 with the face of the casing. As the plate enters the recess, the dog is raised, and when the opening in the plate comes in line with the projection 14 the dog will be returned to its normal position by the action of the spring thus securely locking the parts together.

From the foregoing it will be clear that little or no care need be exercised on the part of a user to effect the connection of the parts as the plate will be guided to proper position by reason of the forms of the parts. To disconnect the end of the strap or band the projection of the dog is moved out of the recess by means of the key thus releasing the plate and allowing its removal. When the plate is removed the dog will be returned to its normal position by the action of the spring, and is ready to engage the plate when the latter is again introduced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Pattent, is

1. A mail bag fastener comprising a casing, a plate to which the casing is attached, a portion of the sides and of one end of the casing adjacent to the plate being removed forming a recess, a pivoted dog arranged in the casing and adapted to move into and out of the recess, and a strap or band attached at one end to the plate and provided at the other end with an opening adapted to receive the dog.

2. A mail bag fastener comprising a casing, a plate to which the casing is attached, a portion of the sides and of one end of the casing adjacent to the plate being removed forming a recess, a pivoted dog ar ranged in the casing and adapted to move into and out of the recess, and a strap or band attached at one end to the plate and provided at the other end with a plate having an opening therein and having a flange projecting therefrom.

3. A mail bag fastener comprising a casing, a plate to which the casing is attached, a portion of the sides and of one end of the casing adjacent to the plate being removed forming a recess, beveled flanges extending along the sides of the recess adjacent to the plate, a strap or band permanently attached at one end to the plate and provided at the other end with a plate having an opening therein and having a flange projectingithere' from.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. SCOTT.

Witnesses:

WALTER JON-Es, Y J. E. Soorr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D; 0. 

